Control apparatus



P. L. MARDIS.

CONTROL'APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. 1917.

1,343,218. PatentedJune 15,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Grou neZ 55 Y Q 4x :3. 46 m ,A WITNESSES: I INVENTQR Pau/ L Nari/5 MW BYv ATTORNEY- P. L. MARDIS.

, CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYG. 1917 1,343,218. Patent me 920.

ETS 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR cf}? 1 Pau/ L Nari/'5 BY MW ATTORNEY UNITED STATES eTENT OFFICE.

PAUL L. MARDIS, or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon 'ro WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL L. MARDis, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of WVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ControlApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and especially to auxiliarydevices that may be mounted beneath the floor of a railway vehicle formaking and breaking a circuit.

One object of my invention is to provide a relatively compact andconvenient auxiliary device of the above-indicated character.

which may be coupled to the platform-controller shaft to initiallyclose, and maintain closed, a circuit, upon movement of the controllerin the one direction, but serving to immediately open the circuit upon acontrollen movement in the other direction, whereby burning and pittingof the controller contact members are obviated.

More specifically stated, it is one object of my invention to provideacontactor device that is operated by a cam upon a controller shaft, thecontactor being provided with areextinguishing means in the form of amagnetizable circuit, partially inclosing the contact'me'mbers, and ablow-out coil for the circuit. j

Another object of my invention is to provide, in conjunction with themagnetic blowout apparatus just mentioned, an overload tripping deviceemploying the blow-out coil for the purpose of moving the contactor toopen-circuit position, under predetermined current conditions. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type setforth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 114,163, filed August 10,1916, but having a greater degree of utility.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system of control embodyingsuch invention; Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of

a complete contactor device and a controller mounted respectively belowand above a vehicle floor, certain parts bein broken away;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, in front elevation, of the complete contactordevice; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown inFig. 3; Fig. 5 and Fig. 8 are plan Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6,

Patented June 15, 1920.

1917. Serial No. 178,918.

views of certain portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6and Fig. 7 are side elevational views corresponding to Fig. 5 and toFig. 8, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the system shown comprisessupply-circuit conductors Trolley andGround; a dynamoelectric machinehaving a commutator-type armature A1 and a field-magnet winding F1 ofthe series type; a variable maincircuit resistor R, the active value ofwhich may be'varied by a controller 4; that is provided with a contactse ment 5 for succes sively engaging a plura ity of control fingers 6having connections to various points of the resistor R, as thecontroller is successively actuated through its operative positions atto 03, inclusive; and a contactor device or line switch comprising astationary contact member 1; a movable contact member 2 and a combinedmagnetic blow-out and overload coil 3, as structurally illustrated inother figures.

Assuming that the controller 4 occupies, for example, its initialoperative position a and that the contactor device has been closed bythe controller movement, as subsequently explained, the circuit isestablished from the trolley through the combined blow-out and overloadcoil 3, movable and stationary contact members 2 and 1, respectively,contact segment 5 and control fingers 6 of the controller 41 in itsposition a, the entire resistor R, the armature A1 and the field-magnetwinding F1 to the negative supply-circuit conductor Ground. I i

It will be noted that the coil 3 is connected in series relation withthe contact mem-.

bers 1 and 2 of the contactor device, where device, which embodies asuitable box or incasing member 15 that is secured, by means of brackets16 and bolts 17, to the underside of the vehicle floor or platform 18 anarc-chute 19 for the familiar purpose of permitting free expulsion ofarcs and gases when the contactor device is opened; and a plurality ofterminal bushings 20 through which extend the necessary leads or conductors that are connected to the remainder of the system, asillustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the detail views, Fig. to Fig. 8, inclusive, wherein thecover member and arc-chute are removed, the contactordevice shaft 14 isshown as mounted in suitable fixed journals or bearings 24 and 25. and adouble ratchet member 26, having peripheral teeth 27 and lateral or sideteeth 28 on its upper surface, is loosely mounted near the lower end ofthe shaft 14. A pawl or hook member 31 that is resiliently mountedwithin a stationary bracket member 32, is arranged to engage theperipheral teeth 27 of the ratchet member 26 and thereby restrictmovement thereof to the forward direction of the controller 4.

A cam member is provided, on its lower face, with a plurality of teeth34 that are adapted to lock with the lateral teeth 28 of the ratchetmember when the controller is moved forwardly. The cam member is adaptedto slide along the shaft 14 and is provided with an up\vardly-extendingannular member or flanged collar 37, for a purpose to be set forth. Thecam member is secured to the lower end of a coil spring 38 whichincloses the shaft 14 within the collar 37 and the degree of compressionof which may be regulated. by means of a nut 39 that runs upon athreaded portion of the shaft. Thus, a movement of the shaft istransmitted through the spring 38 to the cam member 33 and thence,through the interlocking teeth 34 and 28, to the ratchet member 26during forward movement of the main controller shaft 11. I

The stationary contact member 1 of the contactor device may be of thefamiliar copper-terminal type and is mounted upon a suitable portion ofthe frame or base of the device. A cooperating movable contact tip 2,preferably of a resiliently-monnted type to insure good contactpressure, is attached to one end of a bell-crank lever 45 which isintermediately pivoted upon a. standard or bracket 46 and the other endof which is provided with a roller 47 that normally engages theperiphery of the cam member 33.

In Fig. 4, the controller is illustrated as occupying an operativeposition, wherein the diameter of the cam member is sufficient toactuate the roller 47 into such position that the contact members 1 and2 shall be closed. The movable contact member 2 is biased to the openposition by means of a helical spring 48 that is positioned between thebell-crank lever 45 and the base of the contactor device. To provide thecontact members 1 and 2 with arc-extinguishing means, a magnetizablestructure of a familiar type, embodying a pair of interconnected pole-pieces 50, incloses the contact members on three sides, the arc chute19 being located opposite the other side or front edge of the contactmembers, in accordance with the customary practice. The magneticblow-out coil is mounted in the rear of, and above, the contact members1 and 2 between the pole pieces 5t), partially for the purpose ofmagnetizing them, and is connected in series relation with the contactmembers, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The blow-out coil 3 is also utilized as a part of an overload trippingdevice 51 that comprises a lever which is intermediately pivoted at 52upon a suitable post or standard 53, one end of the lever constituting ahook or ring 54 that incloses the flanged ccllar 37 of the cam member33, and the other end thereof constituting an armature that A is locatedopposite the coil 3.

Assuming that the controller 4 occupies its off position and that thecontact members 1 and 2 are separated, as illustrated in Fig. 1, aforward movement of the controller handle 12 actuates the cam member 33toward the final operative position I]. Just after the controllerreaches its position a. the enlarged-diameter portion of the cam memberengages the roller 47 and thereby effects closure of the contactordevice, as previously explained. In this way, the closure of the circuitis effected by the contactor device, whereby no pitting or burning ofthe controller contact members is possible.

Further forward movement of the controller 4 gradually excludes theresistor ll from circuit, or any other control operation may beperformed, as will be understood, and the contactor device is maintainedclosed. However, immediately upon a backward or return movement of thecontroller handle 12, the lateral teeth 34 of the cam member slide overthe ratchet-member teeth 28 or, in other words, the cam member iselevated to a position above the roller mem ber 47, whereupon, thespring 48 immediately effects movement of the contactor device to openposition. Such elevation of the cam member 33 is permitted by reason ofthe maintenance of the ratchet member 26 in the former position, sincethe pawl member 31 prevents any backward move ment thereof.

The circuit is thus opened by the contactor device and, consequently, inthis case also, no burning or other deterioration of the controllercontact members is possible.

To again effect operation of the system by closing the contactor device,it is necessary to return the controller to its off position, whereuponthe cam member 33 is permitted to drop to its lower illustrated positionof interlocking with the ratchet member 26 and therefore, in operativealinement with the roller 47.

A further protectivefunction of the illustrated apparatus isaccomplished as follows: Upon the attainment of a predeterminedrelatively heavy current in the machine, the correspondingly increasedenergization of the blow-out coil 3 attracts the armature 55'of theoverload tripping device 51, whereby the hook or ring member 54immediately raises the cam member 33 to its upper or inoperativeposition, thus permitting the roller 47 to pass beneath the cam member33 and thereby effect a quick opening movement of the contactor deviceby its spring member 48.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details orarrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereofmay be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beimposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controlling device,of an auxiliary set of stationary and movable contact members, means forrespectively and initially closing and opening said contact members inaccordance with the direction of movement of said device, and means forextinguishing arcs between said contact mem-' bers.

2. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controlling device,of an auxiliary set of stationary and movable contact members, means forrespectively and initially closing and opening said contact members inaccordance with the direction of movement of said device, a magnetizablecircuit partially inclosing said contact members, and an energizing coilfor said circuit.

3. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controlling device,of an auxiliary set of stationary and movable contact members, means forrespectively and initially closing and opening said contact members inaccordance with the direction of movement of said device, a magnetizablestructure partially inclosing said contact members, and a magneticblowout coil for said structure connected in series relation with thecontact members.

4:. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controllingdevice, of a set of stationary and movable contact members, means forrespectively closing and opening said contact members in accordance withthe direction of movement of said device, a magnetizable circuitpartially inclosing said contact members, an energizing coil for saidcircuit, and means governed by said coil for rendering said contactmembers mechanically independent of said controlling device.

5. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controlling device,of a separate set of stationary and movable contact members, means forrespectively closing and opening said contact members in accordance withthe directionof movement of said device, electromagneticarc-extinguishing means embodying a coil associated with said contactmembers, and means governed by said coil for independently effecting aseparation of said contact members.

6. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controlling device,of a separate set of stationary and movable contact members, means'forrespectively closing and opening said contact members in accordancewith. the direction of movement of said device, a magnetizable structurepartially inclosing said contact members, a magnetic blowout coil forsaid structure connected in series relation with the contact members,and means actuated by said coil for independently effecting a separationof said contact members.

7. In control apparatus, the combination with a rotatable member, of aratchet member secured thereto, a set of stationary and movable contactmembers, a cam member positively engaged by said ratchet member in onedirection of rotation thereof to effect the closure of said contactmembers, and means for extinguishing arcs between said contact members.

8. In control apparatus, the combination with a rotatable member, of aratchet member secured thereto, a set of stationary and movable contactmembers, a cam member engaged by saidratchet member in one direction ofrotation thereof to effect the closure of said contact members, amagnetizable circuit partially inclosing said contact members, anenergizing coil for said circuit, and means governed by said coil foreffecting separation of said cam member from said ratchet member.

9. In control apparatus, the combination with a rotatable drum member,of a ratchet member secured thereto, an adjacent stationary contactmember, a cooperating movable contact member having an operating lever,a toothed cam member locked by said ratchet member in one direction ofrotation thereof to engage said operating lever and close said contactmembers, a magnetizable structure partially inclosing said contactmembers, a magnetic blowout coil for said structure connected in seriesrelation with thecontactmembers, and an intermediately pivoted lovermember having one end at ,tached to said cam member and having thetions, to effect separation of said cam mem-' her from said ratchetmember primarily and of said contact members secondarily.

10. In control apparatus, the combination with a main controllingdevice, of a separate set of stationary and movable contact members,means for respectively and initially closing and opening said contactmembers in accordance with the direction of movement of said device, andmeans de pendent upon the traversal of a predetermined current throughsaid contact members for effecting a separation thereof.

11. In control apparatus, the combination with a rotatable member, of aratchet member secured thereto, a set of stationary and movable contactmembers, a cam member engaged by said ratchet member in one direction ofrotation thereof to effect the closure of said contact members, andmeans dependent upon the traversal of a predetermined current throughsaid contact members for effecting a separation of said cam member fromsaid ratchet member primarily and of said contact members secondarily.

12. The combination with a pair of contact members and a rotatable planecam for closing the same, of a blow-out coil for said members and meanscontrolled by said coil for moving said cam out of its plane.

13. The combination with a controller for an electric motor and a switchfor closing the circuit of said motor, of a coil in series with saidmotor and serving as a blow-out coil for said switch, a cam foroperating said switch, and means controlled by said coil for renderingsaid cam inoperative when the current traversing said motor exceeds apredetermined value.

Tn testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day ofJune,

PAUL L. MARDIS.

